Above Image Courtesy of Scout 22 PR. All Other Photos By Gail, Except Where Noted
New York City knows how to do food. No matter what type of cuisine you’re craving, finding a great restaurant is easy. But when you’re vegan or vegetarian, you might end up settling for a place that offers just a few meatless choices, rather than walking into a restaurant where you can enjoy every dish on the menu. And while there’s a Sweet Green or Chop’t on nearly every block, it’s challenging to find a healthy, quick lunch alternative when you are tired of eating salad. This is why the NYC arrival of vegan restaurant chain Copper Branch is cause for genuine excitement!
We were having a divine Italian lunch at Olio e Piu when I glanced out the window and spotted — on the tiny traffic island wedged between the cross streets of Sixth Avenue, Greenwich Avenue, and Christopher Street, which is formally known as Ruth E. Wittenberg Triangle — what looked liked a group of Dogs with Cameras (#dogswithcameras). Once we finished our delicious meal, we went outside to investigate. This is where we found the four Paparazzi Dogs.
The Paparazzi Dogs, by husband and wife team Gillie and Marc, have traveled from Australia to Greenwich Village, a place that hosts thousands of photo shoots each year. Gillie and Marc invite you to let the Paparazzi Dogs take your photo here, and become your own celebrity!
Dog owners Jaimie and Mary show the Paparazzi Dogs some love!
The Paparazzi Dogs are brought to you by the NYC Department of Transportation and the Village Alliance. No Word on how long they’ll be on view so get your selfies now!
Public Art, it is so awesome! This over-sized sculpture of a tower of giant Bagels, entitled Everything, was spotted by me in a unique location: on a tiny traffic island near the cross streets of Sixth Avenue, Greenwich Avenue, Christopher Street and something called Ruth E Wittenberg Triangle in Greenwich Village proper.
Ruth E. Wittenberg Triangle: It is a Thing
Created by artist Hanna Liden, Everything (according to a small, informative sign secured to a pole near the sculpture) “features the bagel, a much beloved New York City staple, at the monumental scale. Stacked to form a makeshift vase, their circular form evokes the eternal cycle of city life.” Because, of course it does. Everything is presented by Art Production Fund in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation’s Art Program and the Village Alliance, along with generous support from Kiehl’s Since 1851, which is a small chain of stores here in Manhattan that sells very nice, quality beauty and skin care products.
Here’s another photo of the sculpture, looking east toward Sixth Avenue. You can see there are a couple of little tables and chairs strewn about, if you should feel like sitting on a traffic island to read or have a coffee.
Play a fun game of “Find the Everything Bagel Sculptures” by visiting these other locations, where apparently there are other statues of bagels, which are indicated on this helpful map!
At last month’s Summer Food Fete, we discovered a few favorite new specialty foods, one being a South African cured, dried meat snack called Biltong – which is very tasty – from an indie company called Jonty Jacobs.
Jonty Jacobs Store Interior
Jonty Jacobs is so crazy about Biltong (the owners are from South Africa) and so convinced that New Yorkers will love it as well, that they have just opened a small Biltong and gourmet packaged food shop on Christopher Street, in the heart of the West Village.
Fresh, Hand Cut Biltong!
The Jonty Jacobs brick and mortar shop will allow patrons to custom-order their biltong by choosing the type of biltong (traditional, grass-fed or aged), lean or traditional, with or without spice and cut-style (chunks, shreaded or – for the aged biltong – prosciutto-style thin-cut).
We attended the shop’s soft opening in early July and had the chance to further sample not only their Biltong and other dried meat products, but to also enjoy wine pairings from the Mandela family vineyard and delicious South African style braai (BBQ)!
Mandela Family Wines Flowed Freely
South African chef and entrepreneur Hugo Uys (whom Jonty Jacobs has retained to consult on menu development) was on hand to grill up some delicious sausage and kebabs.
Grilled Sausage Sandwich
Mmm…Kebabs
The store will also offer prepackaged droewors (dried beef sausage) available with or without spice, boerewors (south-african style sausage) available in regular beef, grass fed, lamb or pork, sosaties (marinated and skewered meat) available in all beef, beef, lamb and pork or lamb and beef. Additionally, they will carry a select range of truffle products, caviar, cheese, smoked fish, dips and South African snacks such as cookies, chocolate, dried fruits and teas.
Surely Jonty Jacobs can be to South African expats what Meyers of Keswick is to NYC’s transplanted British!
Jonty Jacobs is located in the heart of the West Village at 114 Christopher Street (between Bleeker & Hudson), NYC. Visit them on the web at Jonty Jacobs Dot Com for Store Hours and More Information.
Talk about a sweet deal! To celebrate its Grand Opening in the heart of Greenwich Village, Forbidden Fruit NYC — a new Chocolate Dipped Fruit Shop — is offering Complimentary TastingsandBuy One, Get One Free deals all day on Thursday, July 12th, 2012!
Enjoying a sweet treat in the city just got healthier thanks to Forbidden Fruit NYC! This fruit and chocolate confections shop, located at 106 MacDougal St. offers fresh fruit that is hand dipped or “dripped” (drizzled) with fine Belgian chocolate (the best!) and specialty toppings for an all-natural sweet treat that will satisfy the chocolate-lover inside everyone. Whether you prefer long stemmed strawberries dipped in dark chocolate, ripe pineapple crescents enveloped in white chocolate and toasted nuts, or a sweet clementine drizzled with creamy milk chocolate (holy cow!), you can find all of that and more at the new Forbidden Fruit NYC. I can’t wait to go!
Update: Please Note That This Shop is Now Closed Permanently Forbidden Fruit NYC is located at 106 MacDougal Street, off Bleecker.
